Supercar of the Year 2012: Ferrari F12

The fastest Ferrari ever is our supercar of the year

But south of Pavullo I'm thinking my route selection was fatally flawed. Even this engine can't overtake an endless chain of traffic on a road that never goes straight, especially when there's another chain coming the other way. Still, there are other ways to appreciate this car, and that's its strength. It rides pliantly. You can dawdle smoothly. Later that night, when I set off on the long route back to Maranello, it hums along the autostrada, holding its course like an arrow, its cockpit a placid cocoon unless you've got the ruddy Italian rap on. In the towns it's easy to see out, amenable to manoeuvring. Only its idiotic steering-wheel control system mars things. (Example: the indicator switches swap left for right if you have lock on, and the passenger in a RHD Ferrari can't reach the radio volume. And yes, the sainted Benuzzi was as much responsible as anyone.) But in its major characteristics, this car is refined and very mature.